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Online Paralegal Course
Curriculum
The comprehensive Blackstone Paralegal course curriculum covers a broad range of legal topics. Please click on a volume for more detail, or scroll downward to view all.

Volume I: Law - Its Origin, Nature and Development & Contracts
Volume II: Torts
Volume III: Criminal Law
Volume IV: Real Property - Part I
Volume V: Real Property - Part II
Volume VI: Pleadings in Civil Actions, Practice in Civil Actions, Criminal Procedures
Volume VII: Wills & Trusts
Volume VIII: Partnerships & Corporations
Volume IX: Constitutional Law - Part I
Volume X: Constitutional Law - Part II
Volume XI: Finding, Reading, and Using the Law
Volume XII: Legal Research and Writing Exercises for Paralegals
Volume XIII: Paralegal Career Starter: How to Find a Job as a Paralegal
Volume XIV: Ethics for Paralegals


Volume I: Law - Its Origin, Nature and Development & Contracts (220 pages)
  • Nature of Law
  • Sources of Law
  • Classifications of Law
  • Beginnings of Law
  • Making of the Common Law
  • Enlargement of the Common Law
  • Maturity of the Law
  • American Development of the Common Law
  • History of Contracts
  • Offer & Acceptance
  • Reality of Consent
  • Contracts Under Seal
  • Consideration
  • Statute of Frauds & Perjuries
  • Capacity of Parties
  • Legality of the Subject Matter
  • Limits of Contractual Obligation
  • Assignment of Contracts
  • Joint & Several Contracts
  • Interpretation & Construction of Contracts
  • Promises & Conditions
  • Rules on Conditions
  • Impossibility of Performance
  • Breach of Contracts
  • The Discharge of Contracts

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Volume II: Torts (234 pages)
  • Fundamental Notions
  • Trespass to the Person
  • Battery
  • Assault
  • False Imprisonment
  • Trespass to Property
  • Excusable Trespasses
  • Conversion
  • Nature of Conversion
  • Particular Instances of Conversion
  • Legal Cause
  • Negligence
  • Contributory Negligence
  • Imputed Contributory Negligence
  • Deceit
  • The Defendant's Wrongful Conduct
  • The Effect Upon the Plaintiff
  • Defamation
  • Two Species of Defamation
  • The Plaintiff's Case in Defamation
  • The Defendant's Response
  • The Response
  • Prima Facie Defense
  • Judgement & Damages
  • Malicious Prosecution
  • Interference with Domestic Relations
  • Interference with Contractual Relations
  • Interference with Business or Employment
  • Right of Privacy
  • Acting at Peril - General Principles
  • Liability for Inanimate Forces
  • Liability for Injuries from Lawful Use of One's Land
  • Joint Tort - Feasors

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Volume III: Criminal Law (154 pages)
  • The Subject Defined
  • The Act
  • The Intent
  • Incapacity or Limitations to Criminal Capacity
  • Circumstances Affecting Criminal Responsibility
  • Justification
  • Parties to Crime
  • Incomplete Offenses
  • Homicide
  • Assault, Battery, Mayhem
  • Rape
  • False Imprisonment
  • Kidnapping & Abduction
  • Burglary & Arson
  • Larceny
  • Robbery
  • Embezzlement
  • False Pretenses
  • Receiving Stolen Goods
  • Malicious Mischief
  • Forgery
  • Counterfeiting
  • Extortion
  • Offenses Against Religion, Morals & Decency
  • Offenses Against the Public Peace
  • Offenses Against Public Authority

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Volume IV: Real Property - Part 1(180 pages)
  • Nature of Ownership
  • Origin & Terminology
  • Real & Personal Property
  • The Feudal System
  • Manors
  • Sources of Title in this Country
  • Tenures
  • Seisin & Livery of Seisin
  • Growth of Individual Rights
  • Estates
  • Fee Simple
  • Determinable or Base Fee
  • Estates Tail
  • Rule in Shelley's Case
  • Life Estates
  • Restraints on Alienation
  • Estates upon Condition
  • Uses
  • Equitable Conversion
  • Remainders & Reversions
  • Contingent Remainders
  • Conditional Limitations
  • Rule Against Perpetuities
  • Application of Rule Against Perpetuities
  • Rule Applied to Charities
  • Rule Applied to Powers
  • Co-Tenancy in General
  • Tenancy in Common
  • Joint Tenancy
  • Coparcenary
  • Estates Arising by Marriage
  • Courtesy

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Volume V: Real Property - Part II (184 pages)
  • Dower
  • Homestead Exemptions
  • Rights Appurtenant to Land
  • Fruits of the Soil
  • Waste Boundaries
  • Fences
  • Natural Rights to Land & Air & Water
  • Lateral & Subjacent Support
  • Easements Licenses
  • Profits
  • Party Walls
  • Rent
  • Covenants Running With Land
  • Forms of Conveyances
  • Surrender & Release
  • Delivery & Acceptance
  • Other Essentials to Valid Conveyance
  • Abstracts of Title
  • Covenants of Title
  • Recording Laws
  • Torrens System of Land Registration
  • Dedication
  • Public Lands
  • Powers
  • Acquisition or Transfer of Title
  • Forfeiture for Crime
  • Sales on Execution
  • Partition
  • Adverse Possession
  • Accretion, Alluvion & Reliction

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Volume VI: Pleadings in Civil Actions, Practice in Civil Actions, Criminal Procedures (206 pages)
  • Necessity of Pleading & Importance of Subject
  • History of Courts & Pleading
  • Course of Action
  • Common Law
  • Causes of Action
  • Proceedings in Other Courts & Effect of the Code on Forms of Action
  • Parties to Actions and Joinder of Actions
  • The Plaintiff's First Pleading
  • General Rules of Pleading
  • The Defenses to an Action
  • Defendant's Pleading & Rules Governing Them
  • The Plaintiff's Second Pleading
  • Closing of Issues & Judgment
  • Beginning Suit
  • Preliminary Motions
  • Non-Jury Cases
  • Jury Trials
  • Opening Statements - Excluding Witnesses
  • Depositions
  • Examinations of Witnesses
  • Charging the Jury
  • Verdicts
  • Entering Judgment
  • Appeals
  • Introduction to Criminal Procedure
  • Jurisdiction & Venue
  • Preliminary Proceedings
  • Indictments
  • Procedure Between Indictment & Trial
  • The Trial
  • Steps After the Trial

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Volume VII: Wills & Trusts (190 pages)
  • Introduction & Classification
  • Descent
  • Distribution
  • Wills Defined
  • Origin, History & Nature of Wills
  • Capacities of Testators & Beneficiaries
  • Execution of Wills
  • Revocation of Wills
  • Republication & Revival
  • Lapsed & Void Legacies & Devises
  • Ademption
  • Probate of Wills
  • Administration of Estates
  • Guardian & Ward
  • History of Trusts
  • Trusts Distinguished From Other Relationships
  • Creation of Express Trusts
  • Creation of Implied Trusts
  • Private Trusts
  • Public Trusts
  • Trustee - Appointment, Qualifications & Powers
  • Trustee - Duties, Rights, Liabilities & Removal
  • Beneficiary - Rights & Liabilities
  • Beneficiary - His Remedies

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Volume VIII: Partnerships & Corporations (222 pages)
  • Legal Conception of Corporation
  • Formation of Corporations
  • Irregularly & Defectively Organized Corporations
  • Promotion of Corporations
  • Subscribers & Stock Subscriptions
  • Corporation & State
  • Corporate Powers
  • Ultra Vires Transactions
  • Corporate Crimes & Torts
  • Directors
  • Corporate Membership
  • Rights of Stockholders
  • Corporate Creditors
  • Foreign Corporations
  • Partnerships - Characteristics
  • Creation of Partnership
  • Name & Property of Partnership
  • Partnership Liability
  • Duties of Partners
  • Remedies of Creditors
  • Actions Between Partners
  • Action Between Partners & Third Persons
  • Termination of Partnership

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Volume IX: Constitutional Law - Part I (104 pages)
  • Constitutions, Their Nature & Law
  • American Constitutions & Constitutional Law
  • Organization & Powers of United States Government
  • Relations Between Union & the States
  • Powers of President
  • Powers of Congress

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Volume X: Constitutional Law -Part II (118 pages)
  • Constitution as a Bill of Rights
  • Political Privileges & Their Protection
  • Civil Rights & Their Guaranties
  • Protection of Person Accused of a Crime
  • Due Process of Law
  • Equal Protections of Law
  • Impairment of Obligation of Contracts
  • The Constitution of the United States

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Volume XI: Finding, Reading, and Using the Law, by Anne M. Stevens (471 pages) and Legal Research Study Guide, by Tracey Biscontini (98 pages)
  • Sources of Law
  • Finding the Law
  • Computer Assisted Legal Research
  • Legal Research
  • Finding the Current Law
  • Understanding the Results of Legal Research
  • Using the Law: Legal Analysis
  • Legal Writing

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Volume XII: Legal Research and Writing (A study guide to accompany the Finding, Reading and Using Law text), by Tracey Biscontini (72 pages)
  • Writing Legal Correspondence
  • Legal Research Memoranda
  • Trial Court Legal Memos
  • Writing Appellate Briefs

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Volume XIII: Paralegal Career Starter, by Jo Lynn Southard (206 pages) and How to Find a Job as a Paralegal Study Guide, by Tracey Biscontini (72 pages)
  • Choosing a Career as a Paralegal
  • Finding Your First Job
  • Job Search Skills; Resume and Cover Letter Writing; Interviewing
  • Succeeding on the Job

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Volume XIV: Ethics for Paralegals (94 pages)
  • Tasks of a Paralegal
  • Attorney vs. Paralegal Responsibilities
  • Certification and Licensing
  • Freelance and Independent Paralegals
  • Confidentiality, Ethical Walls, and Screening
  • Integrity of the Paralegal Profession
  • ABA Model Guidelines
  • NALA Model Guidelines
  • NALA Code of Ethics
  • NFPA Code of Ethics

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Blackstone Career Institute is a Direct Learning Systems School. © 1999-2007 Direct Learning Systems, Inc.

Distance Education and Training Council Blackstone Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, Washington D.C., regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Philadelphia, PA and licensed by the State Board of Private Licensed Schools, Department of Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

BCI provides an excellent foundation for anyone interested in earning a paralegal diploma from home. With more than a century of expertise, Blackstone offers a committed, responsive faculty and a quality education, all at an affordable rate.
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